Kondotty (Kerala)

Renowned academic and Padma Shri awardee Syed Iqbal Hasanain emphasized that education is the foundation of all revolutions. He was speaking at the inauguration of the fifth edition of the Bukhari Knowledge Festival in Kondotty on Friday.

"An attitude of critical inquiry must be cultivated across all disciplines. Only those who think critically can truly understand and engage with the modern world," he stated.

The inaugural session was presided over by Festival Chairman Dr. Hussain Randathani. Among the dignitaries present were Abu Hanifal Faizi Thenala, General Secretary of Bukhari Institutions; Festival Curator C.P. Shafeeq Bukhari; SSF National President Ubaidullah Saqafi; BKF Convener Dr. Abdul Latheef V; SYS State Secretary Dr. Farooq Bukhari Kollam; and community leaders Muhammed Paravur, Shamsuddin Haji, and Abdul Hakeem Haji.

A special session titled "Rereading Gandhi, Nehru, and Azad in Defence of Democracy" was led by Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan and scholar Muhammadali Kinalur.

Other prominent participants included Abdullah Ahsani Chengani, Muhammadali Sakhafi Trikkaripur, Dr. Shihabuddin P, Swabir Sakhafi, T.K. Ali Ashraf, N.S. Abdul Hameed, Majeed Ariyalur, P.K. Nawaz, K.P. Naushadali, Jamsheerali, Basheer Sakhafi Vandithavalam, Shamsuddin Sakhafi Parampilpeetika, T.A. Ali Akbar, Dr. Ibrahim Siddiqui, Nuruddin Mustafa Noorani, Rafiq Ibrahim, Vimish Maniyoor, P.K. Poker, Dr. P.P. Abdurrazak, and Dr. Abbas Panakkal.

The Bukhari Knowledge Festival showcases an intellectual confluence across diverse disciplines, including religion, science, society, language, literature, culture, national issues, and international affairs.

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Over three days, 200 eminent scholars will lead 80 sessions across four venues at the Bukhari Campus. The event is expected to host around 2,000 delegates and will conclude on Sunday evening.  As part of the festival, Syed Iqbal Hasanain also led a session discussing his book "Fault Lines in the Faith and Muslims in North India: Frozen in the Past."